Nihlus wasn't sure what to expect when he went to the safehouse. Weeks of silence was unnerving; for all anybody knew, the two of them succeeded in killing each other. So it was a relief to see Shepard at the door.

She lead him towards the kitchen. He had to pass through the living room to do it and he saw Saren there.

It was strange. He was sprawled out on the couch, with multiple pillows arranged just so. He wasn't fully dressed; was that a bedsheet? Furthermore, when Nihlus greeted him, he only opened his eyes, gave him the impression that moving in any capacity was just not going to happen, and closed his eyes again. He actually yawned.

Shepard laughed a little at Nihlus' confounded expression. He found a seat and she offered him a drink and snacks.

"How are you? How is he?"

"Different," Shepard took a bite of cookie.

"That's a total understatement. What did you do? Are we going to find out that he's developed a dependency on painkillers after you oh so craftily injured him?"

"Oh, stop. He hasn't even been given alcohol," Shepard snorted.

"Well, excuse me for assuming that Saren on the couch in nothing but a bedsheet was the result of some chemical manipulation."

Shepard cleared her throat.

"He wants to learn biotics from me. He wants to teach me. We kissed."

Nihlus had to put his cup down. Shepard looked at him, hoping that he would have answers.

"Nihlus, I don't know what to do."

"Can you tell me about it from the beginning?" he suggested.

So she did. He was attentive as she spoke of Saren's strange change in mood, their flirtation with the chocolate, all of it.

"He likes you," Nihlus said simply.

"I get that. But."

"But?"

"I don't know if he actually likes me or if it's some turian variant of Stockholm Syndrome."

Nihlus coughed.

"That's a valid worry. But from my point of view, it's easy to see why he would be. You did beat him twice in a row, you're not afraid of him, and you are just... so kind. He hasn't had very many people be genuinely kind to him," Nihlus sipped his drink. "Or, he could just have a hot nurse fetish. I think that's much more interesting."

Shepard laughed and then grumbled.

"What? I can totally see where the appeal is. Getting bossed around in the name of health, frequent sponge baths. You do give him those, right?"

He waggled his browplates and Shepard laughed again.

"Stop that."

"You are turning pink. I'm on the right trail. Come on, what do you do to him?"

Shepard shook her head.

"Come on-"

"Nihlus!" she snapped.

"And there's that. You give good bossy," he snickered. "Spirits know when the last time he's had any of that good bossy directed at him. Most people are too afraid."

Shepard chose to get back on topic.

"Sometimes, when he tones down the ice queen act-"

Nihlus snickered.

"he's not that bad. And he is one of the best Spectres around, for what it's worth."

"He's impressed with you and you are impressed with him. It could be worse."

"Oh, I bet. He could be the one."

"Shepard?" Nihlus blinked.

"The Big Mistake. It's supposed to happen at least once to every woman. Movies and tv shows make a big deal about the Big Mistake. He fits the casting. Dangerous, sexy, probably emotionally unavailable, and usually hates his mother. The sex will be awesome, the fights epic, and in the end I'll end up on your doorstep crying my eyes out. Very dramatic."

Nihlus was unsure what Saren's opinion about his mother had to do with anything.

"That could also explain why he's toned down around you. He knows."

"Hm?"

"As honored and famous as he is, he's not a hot commodity on the marriage market."

Barefaced, biotic, from a storied but troubled family, short tempered and with a taste for revenge, and a disturbing tendency to excuse all of his actions with the phrase "Spectre business; classified. No comment". No, Nihlus could not say that any sane parents would be overjoyed at potential introductions.

"He can act like he doesn't care about that as much as he wants, but nobody likes... not having that hope of maybe belonging to somebody someday. He's alone. Since Desolas, he's always alone. It's part of why everything he does looks so suspicious."

Shepard was about to ask on the nuances about his standing in turian culture, when her omnitool chimed. She glanced down.

"He wants cookies."

"He wants you to stop paying attention to me," Nihlus grinned. "I can't believe he's become so obvious. He must be completely crazy about you."

Shepard went to fill up a plate for Saren.

"Shepard, there's nothing wrong with trying him out, find out how physically compatible you are to get the full picture before deciding."

Shepard rolled her eyes at Nihlus' typical turian frankness.

"That's it? All I'm getting for advice?"

"You have everything else handled," Nihlus grinned. "The threat of biotics, bullets, or poisoning his cookies will keep him in line. So he wants to go on missions with you, learn biotics from you, get nursed by you, share meals. At the least he could provide some orgasms to you in the bargain. I'm just saying."

Nihlus ducked the crumpled up napkin she threw at him. The both of them walked back to the living room.

"Do you have word on when an actual verdict will be reached?" Saren asked Nihlus.

"I do not. You know I will let you know as soon as I do."

Saren didn't snap at Nihlus for not giving him an useful answer. He just chose a cookie and took a bite. Nihlus grinned, said his goodbyes, and left.

tbc